Apparatus for sealing cans in vacuum.



L. S. MAEDE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VACUUM APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

L. S. MAEDE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VACUUM.

APPLICATION FILED 0016,1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

L. S. MAEDE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VAUUUM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.6, 1913.

1,119,361, Patented Dec.1,1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I III L. S. MABDE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VACUUM.

APPLICATION FILED 001". e, 1913.

1,1 19,361. Patented Dec.1,114.

6 SHBETSSHEET 4.

lie/and fiMer/e.

L. S. MAEDE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VACUUM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1913 1,119,361, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 5.

INVEN TOR labia .5: Mae? LELAND S.

MAEDE, 0F OAKLAND,

CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS IN VACUUM.

Application filed October 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LELAND S. MAEDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sealing Cans in Vacuum, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for packaging coffee and other substances in vacuum.

It is the object of this invention to provide apparatus for effecting a substantially complete removal of air from cans and their contents and thoroughly sealing the cans thereafter.

Another object is to provide means in a. double-seaming machine for exhausting air from cans immediately prior to the sealing operation which will permit of either a constant or irregular feed of cans to the machine, in which each can will be subjected to the exhausting action before sealing a sufficient length of time to effect a practically complete removal of air from the cells of the ranular material contained therein, and in w ich the can will not be exposed to atmosphere in the interval of time between the exhaustin and sealing operations.

A further 0%)j60l3 is to provide an apparatus of the above character in which the exhausting and sealing operations are accomplished in a vacuum chamber and in which air is being removed from one can while a preceding can is being capped, thus eliminating transposin a can from one machine to another and t ereby attaining a rapid handling of the cans and consequent large capacity at a minimum of expense, and by which a uniform exhaustion of the cans is obtained.

The present invention is particularly designed for use in packaging ground coffee, although it is applicable in packing other substances. I

It is a well known fact that when roasted and ground coffee is exposed to the air, a chemical action takes place, which results in a deterioration of the coffee flavor or aroma, this chemical action being very rapid when the coffee grain is broken. It is, therefore, necessar in order to keep roasted and ground 00 ee from deteriorating, to withdraw the air from the can after pack- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Serial No. 793,642.

ing, and seal it, all of which is accomplished by the hereinafter-described apparatus.

The invention primarily resides in the combination of a vacuum chamber. with a double-seaming device inclosed in the vacuum chamber, means for maintaining a constant vacuum in the chamber, means for delivering and discharging the cans to and from the sealing mechanism through the walls of the vacuum chamber, and means to hold the conveying device stationary while the cans are being sealed.

The invention further consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a detail section and plan view on the line a-a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, with parts broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section in elevation on the line bb of Fig. 4. Fig...6 is a vertical section and elevation on the line cc of Fig. 1, with parts broken away. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section and plan view on the line d--d of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section and elevation on the line ee of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the complete apparatus. Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section of a can adapted to be operated on by the can sealing mechanism employed in this invention. Fig. 11 is a detail in perspective showing the turret-casin construction.

In the drawings A represents the base plate of a can heading machine of any suitable descript-ion, the machine here shown being of the double-seamer type, including a rotary seamer-head 2, mounted on a vertical shaft 3, journaled in suitable bearings in a housing A, carried by the base plate A. The shaft 3 is rotated from a drive shaft 4, through beveled gears 5 and 6; the drive shaft 4 being rotated through a pulley wheel 7 from any suitable source of power. A worm gear 8 on the drive shaft 4 meshes with a corresponding worm gear 9 on a vertical shaft 10, which leads downward through the base plate A and has an arm 11 and segment 12 on its lower end adapted to rotate a Geneva wheel 13, mounted on a shaft 14, journaled in suitable bearings in the base plate A. The lower end of the shaft 10 is provided with a groove cam 16, adapted to actuate a lever 17, connecting with a plunger 18, guided in the base plate A beneath the seamer-head 2. A cam 19 on the shaft 10 is arranged to operate a lever 20, connected at its outer end with a sleeve 21, carrying cams 22 by which the seamer disks are advanced or retracted in relation to each other. The parts just described are included in a well-known type of doubleseaming machine.

In carrying out the present invention, the double-seaming mechanism is inclosed within an air-tight housing of peculiar construction. This housing consists of a lower base portion 23 on which the base plate A is carried; the base 23 forming an inclosure for the underside of the base plate A and the operating parts therebeneath. The rear wall of the base 23 of the housin extends upward to a point slightly a ove the seamer-head 2, which raised portion extends forwardly along the sides a suitable distance. A flange 24 is formed on the upper edge of the base 23 and extends entirely around same.

Secured to the lower portion of the base 23 and covering the forward portion of the base plate A is a plate 26, having an upwardly projecting wall 27 on one of its ends adapted to abut against the vertical edges of the raised portion of the base 23; the plate 26 with its wall member 27 being secured in place by means of bolts 28, or other suitable fastenings. The upper edge of the wall 27 is formed with a horizontal flange 27 the upper face of which is on a level with the upper face of the flange 24 on the raised portion of the base 23.

Formed in the wall 27 is an opening 29, through which a portion of the periphery of a star wheel or turret 30, mounted on the shaft 14, extends. The star wheel 30 is formed with a series of recesses 31 in its periphery, in this case six in number, which are approximately of a diameter corresponding to that of the can to be sealed. The central portion of the star wheel 30 is inclosed in a casing 32 which has a close slidable contact with the upper and lower faces of the star wheel 30, and also with,

its peripheral edge. The casing 32 rests on the base plate A and is secured to the wall 27 on the plate 26 by means of bolts 33, which pass through the wall 27 and engage vertical flanges Z on the casing 32 so as to effectively seal the opening 29. A removable dome 34, formed with a horizontally extending flange 35 on its lower periphery, is adapted to be supported on the flanges 24 and 27, and to be removably secured thereto by means of pivot bolts 36 carried on the flange 35 and arranged to swing into slots 37 bn the flanges 2427 and 35, and having nuts 38 on their threaded lower ends adapted to be tightened against the undersides of the flanges 24 and 27' to tightly clamp the dome in position and form a tight joint at this point.

In order to facilitate the application and removal of the dome 34 it is provided with a vertical slot 39 on one of its sides, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; the slot 39 being designed to receive the drive shaft 4. A plate 40'is provided for closing the slot 39 and is adapted to be secured to the dome 34 and to the flan e 24 by means of bolts 41 and 41. A stu ng box 42 is formed on the plate 40 and surrounds the shaft 4 to form an airtight joint at this point. By the provision of the closure plate 40 the dome 34 can be readily removed by removing the bolts 41, loosening the nuts 38 and disengaging the bolts 36 from the slots 37. The dome may then be hoisted by means of a block and tackle, or in any suitable manner; a ring 43 being provided on the dome 34 for engagement with the hoisting means. This construction enables the ready removal of the dome 34 when it is necessary to obtain access to the interior of the air-tight housing for extensive repairs. Further means of access to the interior of the housing are provided for enabling adjustment of various parts, consisting of a hand-hole and cover 44, and a fastening device 45 on the rear wall of the member 23, and a similar handhole and cover 46 and a fastener 47 therefor on the underside of the member 23.

Observation of the operation of the machine is obtained by means of a window 48 mounted in the dome 34, at any convenient point.

Connecting with the member 23 is a pipe 49 which leads to a drum 50, which drum connects with the intake ports of a suction pump 51, through a pipe 52, as shown in Fig. 9. The pump 51 is designed to maintain a vacuum of approximately twentynine and one-half inches in the drum 50 and the housing surrounding the double-seamin mechanism. The usual check valves 53 an 54 are provided in the pipes 49 and 52, which valves are normally closed and opened toward the pump 51. A cut-ofl valve 55 is also provided in the pipe 49, at a convenient point, to cut off the vacuum in the housing when desired.

In the operation of the invention a can B, such as is shown in Fig. 10, having a peripheral flange C on its upper end and a loose cap D supported thereon, is fed to the star wheel 30 in any suitable manner, with the flange C resting on a shoulder 31 formed in the top of the recess 31; the can B being previously filled with coffee in any suitable manner. The drive shaft 4 then being rotated operates the can sealing mechanism in the usual manner, and rotates the Geneva wheel 13 intermittently by the operation-of the arm 11' and segment 12 in the usual manner. The Geneva wheel 13 in rotating carries the star wheel 30 there with, thus causing the can B in the recess 31 to pass-from the exterior 'of the housing through the casing 32 into the interior of the housing, where it is above the plunger 18. T plunger 18 is then caused to rise by means of the lever seamthe can in the usual manner.

17 and cam16, so asto dispose the flange or rim of the can. in engagement with the seamer 2,. which then operates todouble- The plunger-'18 on moving downward. again re- ;stores the can in its supported position on the starv wheel 30 by which it is advanced and finally ejectedfrom the housing to a the housing a short time before it is subjected to the sealing action. The star wheel 30 is therefore formed with such number and arrangement of can-receiving recesses 31 that when one of the recesses registers with the plunger 18, the succeeding recess carrying acan will be subjected to the action 'ofthe vacuum in the housing during the time the plunger 18 traverses its stroke and duringithejopera-tion of the. seamer. By this construction a practically absolute removal of air from the canis accomplished.

It will now be seen that by maintaining a vacuumwithin the housing a can and its;

contents will not be exposed toatmosphereafter having the air removed therefrom, and

v before-the sealing of the can is efiected. This permits of a gasket usually employed between thecan top D' and the fiangeC being dispensed with, as a perfectly tight joint can beinsured b coating either the margin of the cover or the upper face of the flange C with a thin coat of gum or similar sealing material.

As a means for maintaining a close fit between the star wheel 30 and-it s casing 32, the latter is made in separable adjustable pieces, comprising a bottom piece f, a top piece 9 and side or'endpieces h and i, as particularly shown in Fig. 11. The piece f contacts with the underside of the star wheel, the piece 9 contacts with the upper face and the pieces h and i abut against the rerticalflwalls or periphery thereof; the end pieces h and i being formed-with convex inner faces conforming to the curvature of the periphery of the star wheel.

The end pieces are formed with vertical' slots or'perforations j, through which bolts la passing through the top and bottom plates rought to rest.

"sition of the star wheel.

g and f extend; the bolts k serving to clamp the pieces of the casing together. Adjustment of the end plates to take up wear i effected by loosening the bolts lo and mov ing the end plates against the turret and retightening the bolts; the slots 1'. permitting of the necessary movement of the end plates.

The flanges to which the bolts 33 are secured are formed on the top and .bottom plates 9 and f, and are indicated atil.

F or. the purpose of preventingthe flow of air through the casing 32,-.t he' latter i made of a width greater than that ofjthe, can-receiving recesses 31,. so that the saidv recesses will be completely closed when they pass from one side of the-casing to the o ther on the rotation of the star wheel, andso that i the can ingress and egress opening remains permanently closed irrespective of the Po The. .star wheel and its casing thus form a valve through which the cans can be delivered to. and from the interior of the vacuum housing without breaking the vacuum therein, j

Having thus describedrny invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I i j 1. A continuously-operating apparatus taming a vacuum in said casing; apocketed= carrier mounted within said casing and hay ing a portion projecting outwardly'through said opening to receive the sealed init the removal of the SeaIed-cja -ns; means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said carrier; and a can seaming device ar; ranged within said casing and operable upon the successive cans while in place inf the pockets in said carrier.

2. A continuouslymperating apparatus for sealing cans in vacuum comprising, combination, a sealed casing having an opening therein; means for constantly for sealing cans in vacuum compr1sing,in I combination, a sealed casing having an opening therein; means for-constantly mainf maintaming a vacuum in said casing; a

wheel mounted horizontally within said cas ing and having a portion projecting out ward through said opening, said wheel beingprovided with peripheral pockets to re-' ceive the cans to be sealed from the exterior of the casing and to permit the removal of the sealed cans; means for imparting a stepbystep rotary movement to said wheel; and 12 0 a can-seaming device arranged w1th1n saidcasing and operable upon the successive cans while in place in said pockets.

3. A continuously-operating apparatus.

for sealing cans in vacuum comprising, in combination, a casing having .an open ng therein; 'means for constantly maintaining a vacuum in said casing; a pockebedgcarrier mounted Within said casingjandf li'avinga portion projecting outward throughi said 100 from the exterior of the casing and to perand said carrier adjacent said opening tohermetically seal'the vcasing; means for im- 7 parting a step-by-step movement to said I carrier; and a can-seaming device arranged within said casin and operable upon the successive cans while in place in the pockets in said car'rier.. Y

at. A continuously-operating apparatus for sealing cans in vacuum comprising, in combination, a casing comprising-a base having a vertical wall provided with an opening, and a dome removably mounted upon said wall; means for constantly maintaining a vacuum within said casing; a horizontally arranged pocketedcarrier mounted within said base and having a por tion thereof projecting outward through said opening to receive from the exterior of the casing the cans to'be sealed and to permit the removal of the sealed cans; means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said carrier; means cooperating with said carrier and said vertical wall to hermetically seal said opening; and a can-seaming device arrangedwithin said dome and operable upon the successive cans while in place her, a casing contacting the top, bottom and sides of the wheel, and means for adjustin said casing to compensate for wear thereo and maintain itincontact with the wheel.

6. In an apparatus of the character de- .scribed, the combination with a vacuum chamber, of a rotary can conveying wheel, extending through the walls of said chambet, and a casin contacting. the top, bottom and sides 0 justable in relation to the periphery of the wheel. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LELAND S. MAEDE.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W; HEALEY.

the wheel, comprising atop and a bottom plate, and end plates ad- 

